Niobium carbide (MXene) reduces UHMWPE particle-induced osteolysis

Joint replacement surgery is one of the orthopedic surgeries with high successful rates; however, wear debris generated from prostheses can ultimately lead to periprosthetic osteolysis and failure of the implant. The implant-derived particulate debris such as ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) can initiate the local immune response and recruit monocytic cells to phagocytose particles for generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS induces osteoclastogenesis and macrophages to secrete cytokines which ultimately promote the development of osteolysis. In this work, we develop the few-layered Nb2C (FNC) as an antioxidant which possesses the feature of decreasing the production of cytokines and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis by its ROS adsorption. Moreover, local injection of FNC attenuates the UHMWPE-induced osteolysis in a mouse calvarial model. In sum, our results suggest that FNC can be used for treating osteolytic bone disease caused by excessive osteoclastogenesis. [Display omitted] •Few-layered Nb2C (FNC) was synthesized by chemical exfoliation from bulk Nb2C (BNC) and showed an outstanding elimination of ROS on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) and inhibition effect of oxidative stress in vitro.•Osteoxlastogenesis was driven by reactive oxygen species (ROS), controlling osteoclasts differentiation in the early stage.•FNC inhibited osteoclastogenesis via scavenging ROS and dampening related signal pathway.•UHMWPE-induced osteolysis was attenuated by FNC therapy.